At the pre-drywall meeting, the customer can finally see real progress on their home. The home's framing is in place, and they can see the floor plan taking shape. At this meeting, you should focus on showing the homebuyer the “nuts and bolts” of the home. This meeting also offers an excellent opportunity to show the homebuyer the quality that you're building in to the home. And finally, you need to review the customer's choices again before the drywall is hung and correcting mistakes becomes much more expensive.
At the pre-drywall meeting, talk to your customers about the following areas:
Site: At this meeting, there are no items relating to the site on the agenda. Be prepared to answer any questions about items you reviewed about the lot at the previous meeting.
Structural components: As you tour the home, review the location and function of the home's major structural components with the homebuyer. With the framing complete, you can show the homebuyer the roof, floor, wall, and ceiling structure and explain the basics of how quality is being “built in.” For example, talk about how good workmanship at the framing stage helps avoid cracks and other drywall quality problems later. During your tour, discuss the important structural components of the home with the homebuyer. Explain what the components are, how they fit together, and what they do. Make sure that you include the insulation and air infiltration package in this discussion. Emphasize the structural components that the homebuyer will not be able to see once drywall is hung.
Mechanical: As you tour the home, review the location of the major mechanical systems, such as the furnace and ductwork. As you did at the pre-construction meeting, review with the customer the major mechanical systems that are included in the home, including HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. You should also go over any accessories or upgrades, such as attic fans or air cleaners, that the customer has ordered.
Interior: Confirm the customer's selections and upgrades for interior finish items once again. There is still a little time left to correct any mistakes on items such as appliances and floor coverings. And, it's better to find these mistakes now than at the pre-closing meeting.
More information can be found in our related article, "Managing Customer Expectations through Construction Meetings." Also, BuildIQ University offers these related online training courses:
